Lancs starts work on Old Trafford redevelopment
LANCASHIRE County Cricket Club has begun the long-awaited redevelopment of the Old Trafford Cricket Ground to bring the stadium back up to Test Match standard.
The Ask Developments-led project is part of a £70m redevelopment of the area that also includes the construction of a 155,00 sq ft Tesco superstore nearby.
However, the project had become mired in a legal dispute with Derwent Holdings, the property company owned by entrepreneur Albert Gubay which had proposed another supermarket scheme at its nearby White City retail park.
Derwent’s challenge was dismissed at the Court of Appeal in July, which means the cricket club can finally get underway with construction with a view to completing the stadium in time for the 2013 Ashes series.
Lancashire County Cricket Club chairman Jim Cumbes said: “It’s with great joy and some relief that we get started on the major work to demolish the old stands and build the world-class ground we have been striving for.
“After seven years of hard work and tough battles, we can say the future for the club is now brighter.
“Derwent’s legal challenge seemed to us a pointless exercise, but it did create huge uncertainty due to its financial implications.”
The club has submitted its bid to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the right to stage Test cricket and should hear a response at the end of September.
Contractors will have to work around crowds attending a full County cricket programme next year, as well as a Twenty20 match against South Africa and a one day international with Australia in the summer.
Mr Cumbes said: “The aim of this project was to bring back the Ashes to Old Trafford in 2013. Now we can start improving our chances of turning that dream into reality.
Leader of Trafford Council, Cllr Matt Colledge, said: “I am delighted that work is finally able to begin on bringing this ambitious project to life and that we will soon be able to realise the associated benefits for the borough.”
The club is planning £32m of investment in new pitches, stands, state-of-the-art player and media facilities and an extension to the ground’s indoor cricket school and public areas.
Designed by architects BDP, the development includes two new grandstands and a refurbished Pavilion, which will take capacity to 15,000, capable of rising to 25,000 with temporary seating. The Tesco store is set to bring 500 jobs to the area.
